Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

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Twizel Dave
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Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Twizel Dave »

Hello all! Does anyone have an internet link to the public lightning tracker mentioned here? http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-storie ... thousands/

Is it the same as the one in the list at the top of this forum page? Thank you very much for any help.

Dave.
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Manukau heads obs »

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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Tornado Tim »

That figure is incorrect, Weather-watch is using "all" data from all stations so if its a powerful stroke the Lightning will appear on the map 3 or 4 times (depending if all stations saw it), so essentially its showing repeated data. So the figures quoted are exaggerated quite a bit.

Correlated strikes would have given a more accurate figure but the Boltek units dont do any timestamping so that may lead to it "missing" a strike on the map.

For Reference, The Lightning detectors are not owned by Weather-Watch they are owned by Weather Enthusiasts, Steven G in Christchurch setup the Network for the Boltek units that cover the country.
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Weather Watcher »

For info, MetService lightning detection network picked up about 4700 strikes yesterday.
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Tornado Tim »

Weather Watcher wrote:For info, MetService lightning detection network picked up about 4700 strikes yesterday.
Thanks for that, is that Intracloud or just CG?
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Weather Watcher »

That's CG strikes. about 3700 negatives CG's and 1000 positive CG's detected. Also about 700 CC (Intracloud) detected, but our network is designed to be much more efficent at detecting Cloud-to-Ground (CG) strikes.
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Manukau heads obs »

the boltecs do double count close strikes (or triple etc)
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by NZstorm »

I saw a couple instances of triple CG's yesterday.
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Manukau heads obs »

true!
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Twizel Dave »

Hello all and thank you for the replies.

Can anyone tell me exactly how many lightning networks there are in NZ? From the replies it seems as if there are at least three of them. First is the official one belonging to the Met service, then there is one owned by this outfit calling itself weather watchers, and third there is a collection of lightning devices owned by individual weather enthusiasts.

Have I got that right?

Please excuse me if I still haven't quite twigged yet because these days I am begiining to feel as if my age is starting to catch up with me!

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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by NZstorm »

I know of 4 lightning sources

Global lightning network
Weatherzone
Met Service
Bolteks' which is a home user set up.
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Tornado Tim »

There will be another one and that will be operated by weather enthusiasts but It will be accurate as it is using TOA (like what metservice use) and most importantly will be free to the public.

Another is less well known, Alan in Kerikeri and Graeme in Tokoroa have a long distance Lightning detection system and that is available at there websites, Kerikeri (Alan): http://kerikeriweather.co.nz and Tokoroa (Graeme): http://inmanavenue.com
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Twizel Dave »

Good morning everyone and thanks again for the information. By the looks of things the weather watcher network is really just a collection of the web pages of individual enthusiasts with their own lightning devices!

And I take it we can't access the Met service lightning service without paying a lot of money as with all things these days.
Tornado Tim is this 'TOA' lightning device or network available to be viewed now or is it in development and where will we be able to connect to it? Will I be able to see any lightning over or around Twizel or will it require someone to install a lightning device here first?

Although I was told of a local lightning system I suspect it is an in house thing with Meridian or similar because I have not found any more information about it. So hopefully your lightning network covers Twizel now or in the future because we do get some excellent lightning storms here from time to time.

Dave
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Re: Any web link to NZ's only public lightning tracker?

Unread post by Tornado Tim »

Twizel Dave wrote:is this 'TOA' lightning device or network available to be viewed now or is it in development and where will we be able to connect to it? Will I be able to see any lightning over or around Twizel or will it require someone to install a lightning device here first?
You can view NZ right now at Bliztortung.org but It wont show lightning until 4 Lightning Trackers are up and operational. (Ricky is currently making a board up now to test the components).

You can zoom into quite a degree before you have to own a station yourself when you own a station you will get access to super resolution lightning locations (get down to a specific lat and long for the strike).

The more Lightning detection stations the better.

If we have stations down in Invercargill and/or Christchurch, Twizel will be covered but it would be even better if there was a station in Twizel ;)

More news on the new network coming out soon........
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